Best Motorcycle Routes Near St. Louis, Missouri

For motorcycle enthusiasts who love a scenic ride, eastern Missouri has some of the finest routes around. From high bluffs that overlook the majestic Mississippi River to the farm-filled valleys along the rolling hills of the Missouri River, you are sure to find a route that offers you an amazing ride that you won’t soon forget.

Each of the following routes begins in or near St. Louis, taking you out of town either south or west through the countryside. There are plenty of wineries, small towns and unique stops along the way on each of the three routes we’ve listed, so you’ll be able to make a day or even a weekend of these rides if you like! Stop by Big St. Charles Motorsports on the outskirts of St. Louis if you want to talk motorcycle routes or get your bike tuned up before you go!

Missouri Wine Country Tour

This is a very simple route that you can even start from our dealership if you like, as it goes from St. Charles west along State Route 94 to the small town of Hermann. It’s about 60 miles, so you can easily do it in a day and be back well before dusk, even with sightseeing. Because this route takes you through some of Missouri’s wine country, which is among the best in the Midwest, the Missouri River Valley is particularly picturesque, with majestic bluffs that rise as high as 400 feet above it.

The route is very simple, as you’ll just follow 94 west. The small town of Hermann is the end point, which was established in 1837 by German immigrants who wanted to create a place to preserve German culture. As such, the area is steeped in history and tradition, and you’ll find plenty of historic spots as well as a number of wineries both along 94 and at the route’s terminus in Hermann. Attend wine tastings responsibly!

St. Louis / Illinois Bluffs / MO Mining Country Loop

For those of you looking for a longer adventure, perhaps a ride you can stretch out over a whole day, this route of over 200 miles will provide you with several hours’ worth of riding. You’ll head over the Poplar Street Bridge from St. Louis into Illinois, following the I-255 loop a bit east and then south until exit 6 for Columbia, Illinois (not Missouri!), where you’ll follow Route 3 until you can turn right on Palmer Road, which will become Bluff Road.

You’ll ride south along Bluff Road, parallel to the Mississippi River, for many miles, passing through the towns of Fountain and Fults and past historic Fort de Chartres, established by French forces in 1720. The only existing structure from this era is the fort’s powder magazine, since restored and thought to be the oldest building in Illinois, so it’s worth a look. You’ll also be able to admire the Mississippi River from many points along this route.

Continue a bit east into Prairie Du Rocher on Il-155, where you can take a right at Lisa’s Bar & Restaurant to Market Street, which will take you back to Bluff Road. Follow this to Modoc, then take the Modoc Ferry Road southwest to the Ste. Genevieve-Modoc Ferry, which you can use to cross the Mississippi River for a small fee.

Take Little Rock Road south until it becomes N. Main Street in Ste. Genevieve, where you can stop to check out wineries, cafes or other local color. To find your way back to the loop, turn right at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center to take Market Street west, turning left on S. 4th Street. You’ll follow this road south until it becomes Center Drive, at which point you can get on Missouri Route 32.

This winding road will take you west through New Offenburg, Farmington, Bismarck and Caledonia, Missouri, where you’ll take Missouri Route 21 north once more, all the way back to St. Louis proper.

River Kings Row

From Mehlville in south St. Louis, you’ll follow Highway 61 as it winds its way south for well over a hundred miles on this simple route. You’ll be riding alongside the beautiful Mississippi River and you can choose to stop at any of the dozens of small towns along the way or at the scenic viewpoints for some photos. The road is smooth and you’ll find plenty of turns to keep things interesting.

Head all the way to Sikeston, Missouri, where you can hit up a local diner called Lambert’s Cafe, opened in 1942. The diner advertises itself as the “Home of the Throwed Rolls,” referencing their custom of tossing hot dinner rolls at patrons during the lunch rush. Southern-style cooking will fill you up for your ride back north, following either 61 again or taking I-55 for a faster drive back to St. Louis.

We hope you’ve found a new ride to try from our list. Visit our St. Charles dealership today to see our selection of new and used motorcycles for sale, or to have your own motorcycle fixed up before your next touring ride. Big St. Charles Motorsports proudly serves the greater St. Louis, MO, metropolitan area, including the cities of St. Peters and Columbia to the west!